Apparatus for mounting an anatomical positioner on a patient care platform

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for mounting an anatomical positioner on a patient care platform includes a clamping mechanism for allowing an operator to quickly and securely join the apparatus to the patient care platform. Guide rails are joined to the clamping mechanism. The guide rails extend away from the patient care platform. Slides slidably join to the guide rails to allow the operator to position the anatomical positioner to impart a force on a patient on the patient care platform. The slides include brakes for at least stopping movement in a direction away from the patient care platform, and brake releases for releasing the brakes. Supports join to the slides for supporting the anatomical positioner. The supports have restraints for allowing the operator to quickly secure and adjust the anatomical positioner, whereby the anatomical positioner is positioned by the operator to impart the force on the patient and locked in place.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Utility patent application claims priority benefit of theU.S. provisional application for patent serial number 61098757 filed on20 Sep. 2008 under 35 U.S.C. 119(e). The contents of this relatedprovisional application are incorporated herein by reference for allpurposes.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX

Not applicable.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office,patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rightswhatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to medical equipment. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a table mount for use with ashoulder press that positions patient's shoulders during medicalprocedures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Best practices demand correct visualization of the vertebraeintraoperatively for all surgical approaches involving the cervicalspine. The Citow Cervical Visualizer (CCV) has proven to be a safe andeffective means by which a spine surgeon can correctly ascertain thatsurgery is being performed at the correct level, thereby significantlydiminishing the possibility of wrong site surgery in the cervicalvertebrae. The CCV is a handheld radiolucent shoulder positioningdevice, or shoulder press, designed to facilitate and optimize thevisualization of the cervical vertebrae during surgical approaches bymoving and holding the shoulders out of the way in order to visualize anadditional two to three vertebrae. Accomplishing this task via the usageof a pair of radiolucent carbon fiber pusher tubes that terminate inmatched radiolucent arches, the CCV utilizes an adjustable horizontalcrossbar tipped with ergonomic handgrips to transmit the necessary 24 to37 pounds of motive force upon the patient's shoulders (i.e., theAcromion Clavicular joint) facilitating the transient movement of thesestructures and thereby allowing optimized visualization of the cervicalvertebrae under X-Ray. The utilization of the CCV in this modality iseffected by a live operator positioned at the head of the surgical tabledelivering this motive force thru handheld positioning and manipulation.Thus, the live operator is exposed to radiation from the X-Rays, whichis an undesirable consequence of using the CCV. Furthermore, the CCV isoften used in a complex surgical environment comprising a multitude ofleads, lines and monitoring equipment around which the operator mustmaneuver, which may be a very difficult task.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improved techniques forproviding means for using a shoulder press such as the CCV on a patientwithout a live operator that may be easily employed in a complexsurgical environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary universal table mount for a shoulderpress in use on a surgical table, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary table mount for a shoulder press for useon patient surfaces without side rails, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are notnecessarily drawn to scale.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the forgoing and other objects and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, an apparatus for mounting an anatomicalpositioner on a patient care platform is presented.

In one embodiment, an apparatus for mounting an anatomical positioner ona patient care platform is presented. The apparatus includes means forsecurely joining to the patient care platform, means for extending awayfrom the patient care platform, means for moving along a length of theextending means, means for stopping movement in a direction away fromthe patient care platform, means for releasing the stopping means forallowing movement away from the patient care platform and means forsupporting the anatomical positioner, whereby the anatomical positioneris positioned by movement along the extending means and locked in placeby the stopping means. In another embodiment the stopping means furtherallows movement in a direction toward the patient care platform.

In another embodiment an apparatus for mounting an anatomical positioneron a patient care platform is presented. The apparatus includes aclamping mechanism for allowing an operator to quickly and securely jointhe apparatus to the patient care platform. Guide rails are joined tothe clamping mechanism. The guide rails extend away from the patientcare platform. Slides slidably join to the guide rails to allow theoperator to position the anatomical positioner to impart a force on apatient on the patient care platform. The slides include brakes for atleast stopping movement in a direction away from the patient careplatform, and brake releases for releasing the brakes. Supports join tothe slides for supporting the anatomical positioner. The supports haverestraints for allowing the operator to quickly secure and adjust theanatomical positioner, whereby the anatomical positioner is positionedby the operator to impart the force on the patient and locked in placesuch that the operator can vacate the immediate area of the patient careplatform. In various other embodiments the restraints are pivoting andthe brake releases include a lever for the operator to easily handle. Inother embodiments the clamping mechanism clamps to accessory side railsof the patient care platform and the clamping mechanism secures to theaccessory side rails of the patient care platform with a twist dial. Inyet other embodiments the clamping mechanism clamps to surfaces of thepatient care platform and the clamping mechanism clamps to surfaces ofthe patient care platform with actuating plates. In anther embodimentthe brakes incorporate an internal friction braking system that allowsthe operator to move the anatomical positioner toward the patient careplatform and stops movement away from the patient care platform. Instill another embodiment the brake releases quickly release the brakesfor allowing the operator to rapidly move the anatomical positioner awayfrom the patient.

In another embodiment an apparatus for mounting an anatomical positioneron a patient care platform is presented. The apparatus includes a leftclamp for securely joining to a left side of the patient care platform.A right clamp securely joins to a right side of the patient careplatform. A left guide rail joins to the left clamp for extending awayfrom the left clamp and parallel to the left side of the patient careplatform. A right guide rail joins to the right clamp for extending awayfrom the right clamp and parallel to the right side of the patient careplatform. A left slide slidably joins to the left guide rail for movingalong a length of the left guide rail. The left slide includes a leftbrake for at least stopping movement in a direction away from thepatient care platform, and a left brake release for releasing the leftbrake and allowing movement away from the patient care platform. A rightslide slidably joins to the right guide rail for moving along a lengthof the right guide rail. The right slide includes a right brake for atleast stopping movement in a direction away from the patient careplatform, and a right brake release for releasing the right brake andallowing movement away from the patient care platform. A left upwardsupport is joined to the left slide and extends above the patient careplatform for supporting a left side of the anatomical positioner. Theleft upward support includes a left restraint for securing theanatomical positioner. A right upward support is joined to the rightslide and extends above the patient care platform for supporting a rightside of the anatomical positioner. The right upward support includes aright restraint for securing the anatomical positioner, whereby theanatomical positioner is positioned by movement along the left guiderail and the right guide rail, and locked in place by the left brake andthe right brake. In other embodiments the left restraint and the rightrestraint are pivoting and the left brake release and the right brakerelease each include a hand-operated lever. In yet other embodiments theleft clamp and the right clamp each clamp to accessory side rails of thepatient care platform and the left clamp and the right clamp secure tothe accessory side rails of the patient care platform with a twist dial.In still other embodiments the left clamp and the right clamp each clampto surfaces of the patient care platform and the left clamp and theright clamp each clamp to surfaces of the patient care platform withactuating plates. In yet another embodiment the left brake and the rightbrake incorporate an internal friction braking system that allowsmovement toward the patient care platform and stops movement away fromthe patient care platform. In still another embodiment the left brakerelease and the right brake release quickly release the left brake andright brake for rapid movement away from the patient care platform.

Other features, advantages, and object of the present invention willbecome more apparent and be more readily understood from the followingdetailed description, which should be read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailedfigures and description set forth herein.

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to theFigures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate thatthe detailed description given herein with respect to these figures isfor explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limitedembodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled inthe art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention,recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, dependingupon the needs of the particular application, to implement thefunctionality of any given detail described herein, beyond theparticular implementation choices in the following embodiments describedand shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations ofthe invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit withinthe scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read asplural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, whereappropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply thatthe two are mutually exclusive.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference toembodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a table attacheddevice, or universal table mount, for a shoulder press that provides afirm and stable, horizontal cradled platform upon which the shoulderpress can travel and lock in such a way as to effectively andconsistently replicate the action and application of sustained force forthe duration of an X-Ray, which would otherwise be delivered by a liveoperator. By providing a generally consistent and reliable platform, thetable mount allows for the reliable and correct positioning and quickrelease of the shoulder press without the necessity or presence of alive operator during the actual patient X-Ray, thereby generallyeliminating the possibility of exposure to radiation for all personnel.Without a table mount according to preferred embodiments, the handheldnature of the shoulder press device offers no such protection andprecludes the use of the shoulder press device in environments where aC-ARM (i.e., Intraoperative Flouroscope) is utilized due to harmfulexposure levels. Additionally, by providing a stable platform for theshoulder press throughout the entire duration of a surgical procedure,the table mount allows for one time set-up and continuous positioning ofthe shoulder press in immediate proximity to the usage site, therebygenerally eliminating the complicated procedure of maneuvering andpositioning the shoulder press in the ubiquitous environment of leads,lines, anesthesia and monitoring equipment, as well as greatlysimplifying the usage of the shoulder press without disturbing thesesensitive arrays. However, alternate usages for preferred embodiments ofthe present invention may be conceived such as, but not limited to,usage in an X-Ray room, usage by paramedics, usage in the traumaspecialty for diagnosis, usage by orthopedic surgeons as a surgicalpositioner for patient extremities during revision hip arthroplasty,etc. Further alternate usages for preferred embodiments of the presentinvention may also be conceived such as, but not limited to, usage invarious surgical, diagnostic and imaging procedures as an anatomicalpositioner for applications throughout the entire human anatomy relatingto all aspects of patient care and specialties. Yet other alternativeusages for preferred embodiments of the present invention may also beconceived such as, but not limited to, usage relating to all surgicalspecialties as a platform for the positioning and manipulation of tools,equipment, and necessities relating to all aspects of patient care,including, but not be limited to, surgical, diagnostic and imaging ofpatients. It is further contemplated that alternate usages for preferredembodiments of the present invention may also be conceived such as, butnot limited to, usages relating to all aspects of veterinary care.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary universal table mount 101 for a shoulderpress 103 in use on a surgical table 105, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, tablemount 101 is comprised of two distinct yet mirror imaged sections, adedicated right section 107 and a dedicated left section 109. Alternateembodiments may be implemented in which the left and right sections ofthe mount are connected. In the present embodiment, right section 107and left section 109 clamp onto surgical table 105, which is equippedwith industry standard accessory side rails 111 provided by tablemanufacturers for the use of the surgical staff in mounting variousnecessary equipment to surgical table 105 for use during surgery.Accessory side rails 111 may use American standard or metricmeasurements, and universal table mounts according to preferredembodiments of the present invention may be available in distinctclamping sizes to accommodate these industry standards. Right section107 and left section 109 of table mount 101 slide easily onto accessoryside rails 111, and an attachment mechanism 113 fully seats and issecured with a simple twist dial 115. Guide rails 117 extend fromattachment mechanisms 113 onto which upward supports 118 are slidablyattached with slides 119. Attachment mechanisms 113 are preferably madeof aluminum; however, the attachment mechanisms in alternate embodimentsmay be made of different materials such as, but not limited to,different metals or plastic. Guide rails 117 and upward supports 118 arepreferably one-inch square aluminum bars. However, those skilled in theart, in light of the present teachings, will readily recognize that themount rails and upward supports in alternate embodiments may be made indifferent shapes and sizes and be made of various different materialssuch as, but not limited to, different metals or plastic. Furthermore,slides 119 are preferably made of plastic; however, alternate materialssuch as, but not limited to, various metals may also be used. In thepresent embodiment, slides 119 comprise handbrakes 121 that enableupward supports 118 to be locked into place on guide rails 117.

In typical use of the present embodiment, after mounting table mount 101to accessory side rails 111, placement of shoulder press 103 within ashoulder press cradle is quick and easy, and shoulder press 103 issecured within the shoulder press cradle with adjustable/pivotingL-Shaped restraints 123 provided to accommodate this function. Afterpositioning and adjusting shoulder press 103 to the proper width toeffectively migrate the shoulders distally within table mount 101, anoperator may apply the 24 to 37 pounds of motive force upon theAcromion-Clavicular joint with shoulder press 103 by squeezinghandbrakes 121 and pushing upward supports 118 or shoulder press 103toward the patient on surgical table 105. The application of motiveforce by the operator along with the hand actuation of handbrakes 121advances the position of shoulder press 103. When shoulder press 103 iscorrectly positioned, the operator releases handbrakes 121 to locksliders 119 and therefore shoulder press 103 in place. The operator mayswiftly and easily unlock and move shoulder press 103 away from thepatient by squeezing handbrakes 121 and pulling back. Some embodimentsmay also comprise a quick release mechanism for the handbrakes so thatthe shoulder press may be immediately moved away from the patient incase of an emergency.

In alternate embodiments, the travel of the upward supports and theshoulder press within the shoulder press cradle along the guide rails isunidirectional toward the patient. In these embodiments the upwardsupports are able to move freely toward the patient and are preventedfrom moving away from the patient through the incorporation of aninternal friction braking system. The actuation of a brake releaseallows for a reversal of travel away from the patient by releasing theinternal friction braking system. The friction brake resists allbackward motion due to tilting and comprises a hand control thatreorients the tilt by finger tapping in order to enable backwardmovement. The friction brake preferably uses a large trigger somewhatakin to a bicycle handbrake lever. However, a bicycle brake uses acaliper style set of rubber pads whereas this friction brake uses nocalipers, discs or pads and instead utilizes the slight offset of achannel and the guide rail of the table mount to halt backward motionunless the internal offset is lessened through application of thetrigger/brake release. Other alternative embodiments may employdiffering means for halting the backward motion. These other alternativemeans will also have at least one hand control means for enablingbackward movement.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary mount 201 for a shoulder press 203 foruse on patient surfaces without side rails, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, mount201 comprises variable clamps 207 rather than attachment mechanisms forsliding onto an accessory side rail. Variable clamps 207 slide over theedges of a patient surface and are held in place by actuating plates 209that squeeze the edges of the patient surface when clamp locks 211 areemployed. In other alternative embodiments clamps may be locked intoposition by any number of devices such as, but not limited to, levers,dials, knobs, etc. that are deemed appropriate to the patient anatomythe alternate embodiments address. This enables mount 201 to be attachedto surfaces other than operating room surgical tables with side railsfor example, without limitation, other types of patient beds and tables,paramedic long boards, imaging tables, exam tables, etc., any otherpatient care surfaces unrestricted to unrestricted to horizontalpositions, and whatever variable geometry offered by the patient caresurface, whether fixed or movable during usage

Paramedics often carry patients on long boards, and when a patient has asuspected subluxation injury (i.e., broken neck), they are brought tothe emergency room (ER) on such a long board and typically remain onthis long board throughout the ER experience. In typical use of thepresent embodiment, shoulder press 203 may be attached to a long boardwith mount 201 to quickly assist in correct visualization of thecervical spine of the patient to determine if there is an injury.

Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention,other equivalent or alternative methods of providing a table mount for ashoulder press or anatomical positioner according to the presentinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The inventionhas been described above by way of illustration, and the specificembodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to theparticular forms disclosed. For example, the particular implementationof the table mount may vary depending upon the particular type ofshoulder press used. The table mounts described in the foregoing weredirected to implementations for use with the CCV; however, similartechniques are to implement table mounts for use with various differentshoulder presses, anatomical positioners, equipment positioners, etc.Implementations of the present invention implemented for use withshoulder presses other than the CCV are contemplated as within the scopeof the present invention. The invention is thus to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the following claims.

1. An apparatus for mounting an anatomical positioner on a patient careplatform, the apparatus comprising: means for securely joining to thepatient care platform; means for extending away from the patient careplatform; means for moving along a length of said extending means; meansfor stopping movement in a direction away from the patient careplatform; means for releasing said stopping means for allowing movementaway from the patient care platform; and means for supporting theanatomical positioner, whereby the anatomical positioner is positionedby movement along said extending means and locked in place by saidstopping means.
 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein saidstopping means further allows movement in a direction toward the patientcare platform.
 3. An apparatus for mounting an anatomical positioner ona patient care platform, the apparatus comprising: a clamping mechanismfor allowing an operator to quickly and securely join the apparatus tothe patient care platform; guide rails joined to said clampingmechanism, said guide rails extending away from the patient careplatform; slides slidably joined to said guide rails to allow theoperator to position the anatomical positioner to impart a force on apatient on the patient care platform, said slides comprising brakes forat least stopping movement in a direction away from the patient careplatform, and brake releases for releasing said brakes; and supportsjoined to said slides for supporting the anatomical positioner, saidsupports comprising restraints for allowing the operator to quicklysecure and adjust the anatomical positioner, whereby the anatomicalpositioner is positioned by the operator to impart the force on thepatient and locked in place such that the operator can vacate theimmediate area of the patient care platform.
 4. The apparatus as recitedin claim 3, wherein said restraints are pivoting.
 5. The apparatus asrecited in claim 3, wherein said brake releases comprise a lever for theoperator to easily handle.
 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 3,wherein said clamping mechanism clamps to accessory side rails of thepatient care platform.
 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, whereinsaid clamping mechanism secures to the accessory side rails of thepatient care platform with a twist dial.
 8. The apparatus as recited inclaim 3, wherein said clamping mechanism clamps to surfaces of thepatient care platform.
 9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, whereinsaid clamping mechanism clamps to surfaces of the patient care platformwith actuating plates.
 10. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, whereinsaid brakes incorporate an internal friction braking system that allowsthe operator to move the anatomical positioner toward the patient careplatform and stops movement away from the patient care platform.
 11. Theapparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said brake releases quicklyrelease said brakes for allowing the operator to rapidly move theanatomical positioner away from the patient.
 12. An apparatus formounting an anatomical positioner on a patient care platform, theapparatus comprising: a left clamp for securely joining to a left sideof the patient care platform; a right clamp for securely joining to aright side of the patient care platform; a left guide rail joined tosaid left clamp for extending away from said left clamp and parallel tothe left side of the patient care platform; a right guide rail joined tosaid right clamp for extending away from said right clamp and parallelto the right side of the patient care platform; a left slide slidablyjoined to said left guide rail for moving along a length of said leftguide rail, said left slide comprising a left brake for at leaststopping movement in a direction away from the patient care platform,and a left brake release for releasing said left brake and allowingmovement away from the patient care platform; a right slide slidablyjoined to said right guide rail for moving along a length of said rightguide rail, said right slide comprising a right brake for at leaststopping movement in a direction away from the patient care platform,and a right brake release for releasing said right brake and allowingmovement away from the patient care platform; a left upward supportjoined to said left slide and extending above the patient care platformfor supporting a left side of the anatomical positioner, said leftupward support comprising a left restraint for securing the anatomicalpositioner; and a right upward support joined to said right slide andextending above the patient care platform for supporting a right side ofthe anatomical positioner, said right upward support comprising a rightrestraint for securing the anatomical positioner, whereby the anatomicalpositioner is positioned by movement along said left guide rail and saidright guide rail, and locked in place by said left brake and said rightbrake.
 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said leftrestraint and said right restraint are pivoting.
 14. The apparatus asrecited in claim 12, wherein said left brake release and said rightbrake release each comprise a hand-operated lever.
 15. The apparatus asrecited in claim 12, wherein said left clamp and said right clamp eachclamp to accessory side rails of the patient care platform.
 16. Theapparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said left clamp and said rightclamp secure to the accessory side rails of the patient care platformwith a twist dial.
 17. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, whereinsaid left clamp and said right clamp each clamp to surfaces of thepatient care platform.
 18. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, whereinsaid left clamp and said right clamp each clamp to surfaces of thepatient care platform with actuating plates.
 19. The apparatus asrecited in claim 12, wherein said left brake and said right brakeincorporate an internal friction braking system that allows movementtoward the patient care platform and stops movement away from thepatient care platform.
 20. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, whereinsaid left brake release and said right brake release quickly releasesaid left brake and right brake for rapid movement away from the patientcare platform.